Elevator machine braking

A method of using an elevator machine to control movement of an associated elevator car, the elevator machine including a motor configured to selectively move the elevator car and an elevator drive configured to control power supply to the motor, the elevator drive including a plurality of first inverter switches and a plurality of second inverter switches, the method comprising:

• providing control signals from a processor to control operation of the inverter switches;
• using a first signal buffer between the processor and the inverter switches for selectively preventing any control signals from turning on any of the inverter switches when the motor should not receive power;
• and
• using a second signal buffer between the processor and the inverter switches for selectively bypassing the first signal buffer, preventing any control signals from turning on the first inverter switches, and allowing a control signal from the processor to turn on the second inverter switches to provide motor braking that resists movement of the elevator car.